The regulation, planting, care and control of shade trees and
shrubbery upon or in the streets, highways, public places, parks or
parkways of this municipality shall be exercised by and be under the
authority of a Commission consisting of five residents of this municipality,
which Commission shall be known as the "Shade Tree Commission of Washington,
New Jersey," the members of which shall be appointed by the Mayor
and shall serve without compensation.

Exercise full and exclusive control over the regulations, planting
and care of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery now located,
or which may hereafter be planted, in any public highway, park or
parkway, including the planting, trimming, spraying, care and protection
thereof.

Care for and control such parks and parkways; encourage arboriculture;
make, alter, amend and repeal, in the manner prescribed for the passage,
alteration, amendment and repeal of ordinances by the governing body
of the municipality, any and all ordinances necessary or proper for
carrying out the provisions hereof.

Administer treatment to or remove any tree situate upon private property
which is believed to harbor a disease or insects readily communicable
to neighboring healthy trees in the care of the municipality and enter
upon private property for that purpose, with the consent of the owner
thereof, provided that the suspected condition is first confirmed
by a certificate issued by or on behalf of the Department of Agriculture.

Except as hereinafter provided, the initial cost of all trees planted
by the Commission, the cost of planting the same, the cost of the
posts and boxes or guards used for the protection thereof and the
cost of the removal of any tree or part thereof dangerous to public
safety shall, if the Commission shall so determine in accordance with
uniform rules and regulations promulgated for this purpose, be a charge
upon the real estate in front of which such tree or trees shall be
planted or removed as an improvement thereof. Such cost, if it is
so determined that it is to be paid by the owner, shall, unless paid
directly to the Commission, be certified by it to the Collector of
Taxes of the municipality, shall thereupon become and be a lien upon
said real estate, shall be included in the next tax bill rendered
to the owner or owners thereof and shall be collected in the same
manner as other taxes against that property.

In every case where the property of an abutting owner will be
chargeable with the cost of planting of any shade tree or trees, the
Commission shall give notice of the meeting at which it is proposed
to consider said planting by publishing the notice at least once,
not less than 20 days before the meeting, in a newspaper circulating
in the municipality, or by personal service of a copy of the notice
upon the abutting owner at least 10 days before the meeting. The notice
shall specify the street, streets or portions thereof on which such
planting is proposed and require all persons who may object thereto
to present their objections in writing at the office of the Commission
at or before the meeting. Before final action shall be taken, all
objections so filed shall be considered. The Commission shall give
reasonable notice of its intention to remove, or cause the removal
of, a tree or part of a tree dangerous to public safety, unless public
safety requires immediate removal, in which case no notice shall be
necessary.

The Commission may prescribe a fine for the violation of each
of its ordinances in an amount not to exceed $200 for each violation,
and the courts which now or hereafter shall have jurisdiction over
actions for the violation of ordinances of the municipality shall
have jurisdiction in actions for the violation of such ordinances
as the Commission shall enact.